#2. FAITH: Fundamental of the Christian Life
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Rom. 1:17KJV
Repentance must lead us to believe the gospel because therein lies the righteousness of God. The sustainability of this righteousness is in total trust in what God has done for us in Christ. Without faith, the gospel remains powerless in the heart of the penitent!
What differentiates the just and the unjust is faith. The unjust are puffed up and live by their self-sufficiency. But “…the just shall live by faith”, their confidence is in God.
The righteous shall live his whole life by faith — he is saved by faith, kept by faith and lives by faith. His faith shall be tried many times and in many ways, yet he will always be vindicated by faith.
Faith knows how to wait on the LORD for renewal of strength and it is always victorious (Isa. 40:31; 1 Jn. 5:4).
THE DEFINITION OF FAITH
Faith is not believing a thing without evidence; on the contrary, faith rests upon best evidence — the Word of God (Rm. 10:17). Faith is the absolute confidence you have in God and His Word; as a result of your knowledge of His name, convictions of His Person and the commitment of your heart to rest on Him (Psa. 9:10; Mk. 12:32; Jn. 1:12). These three elements of faith must personally be applied to the Person of Jesus Christ if it will result in salvation.
Faith has two sides — the intellectual conviction and volitional surrender of the will to Jesus Christ as Master. This is seen when Thomas believed and confessed: “my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28). Saving faith is an intellectual conviction that Jesus is God and volitional surrender to Him as Lord (Master) of your life. By faith, the mind trusts in God, the heart responds to the love of God, the will submits to the commands of God and the life obeys in the service of God.
Faith is paradoxical. It goes beyond reason. It believes without understanding “why”. It sings in prison. It glorifies in tribulation. It chooses to suffer and renounce earthly riches. It accepts all things as part of God’s will.
Your faith is your title deed to eternal life. Just as a title deed is evidence of real estate, so your faith is evidence of your eternal estate in God (2 Cor. 4:18). Faith is taking God at His Word and asking no questions (Heb. 11:6). Faith knows all things work together for good to them that love God (Rm. 8:28).
THE DYNAMICS OF FAITH
Faith is precious, holy and so dynamic as one plunges himself in Christ’s work on Calvary.
It brings forgiveness, justification, adoption, closeness to God, salvation, sanctification, the light of the Spirit, the life of the Spirit, eternal life, God’s power, the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of God, rest, peace, assurance, and joy to the heart.
It makes you live victoriously over the world. Great exploits are done through faith as we see it in the lives of heroes and heroines of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven.
Faith is so essential such that what does not emanate from faith is sin. Without it, you cannot please God. You cannot enjoy the gospel. You cannot receive anything from God and you cannot fight the good fight of faith.
Faith works by love and faith without works is dead, because good works reveal faith (Gal. 5:6; Jas. 2:17–26).
The source of faith is both divine and human. It is the work of Trinity: God the Father impacts this gift (Rm.12:3); God the Son is the author and the finisher of it (Heb. 12:2); and God the Spirit impacts the gift of faith (Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 12:9).
The human side of faith is by hearing the Word of God and this is why the gospel must be preached if men will be saved.
Jesus Christ attributed a kind of omnipotence to faith (Mk. 9:23; Jn. 14:12). Here is a mighty ocean of power for believers! The great question for a disciple to answer is not “what can I do?”, but “how much can I believe?.”
A disciple, by faith, will be able to do greater things than his Master. For all things are possible to him that believes! Do you really have this basic understanding? Seek God in prayers as you activate your faith now!
To further understand the concept of faith as a fundamental value for the christian life, you order for the book: Fundamentals of the Christian Life on JUMIA and AMAZON. For more information about our ministry and the writer’s works, visit our website by clicking here.
